Skills in oral and written communication, critical thinking, values identification, social interaction -- and a sense of responsibility for one's place in the community and in civic life -- are vital for success in academic and career pursuits and for lifelong learning. These abilities are developed within the context of the substantive, content-oriented courses of the All-University Curriculum.
Written Communication
Most experts agree that students neither have enough practice in writing,
nor enough instruction and feedback in how to write effectively. The quality
of students' writing tends to reflect the quality of their thinking; both
abilities need to be developed and refined, not just in composition courses,
but through writing in all courses.
The course "Hunger: Problems of Scarcity and Choice" is an example of a course focusing on written comunication. Through regular practice in writing, students develop their written communication skills while studying problems of hunger.
Oral Communication
The well-educated adult who is successful in career and personal pursuits
is articulate and can communicate appropriately in a variety of settings.
Oral communication skills, which reinforce and reflect thinking and organizational
abilities, can be developed through practice and feedback.
"Sources of Power" is one of the All-University Curriculum courses that provides students with many opportunities to develop their oral communication skills through small group activities and public presentations.
Critical Thinking
and Problem Solving
Highly developed critical thinking skills are essential in order to confront
the challenges of the future. Critical thinking is the ability to examine
ideas and issues intelligently, to produce valid inferences from stated
premises, and to apply the techniques of analysis and syntheses. Problem
solving focuses thinking on a particular issue or concern.
The course "Discovering America" challenges students to think analytically and to solve problems emerging from the social, historical, and cultural events in America.
Social Interaction
Students need to develop effective social interaction skills to utilize
their knowledge and accomplish their goals. College graduates will be called
on to work cooperatively and effectively in one-to-one relationships and
in groups.
An example of an All-University Curriculum course that develops social interaction skills is "The Adult Journey" which explores bio-psycho-social events in early, middle, and late adulthood. Students develop social interaction skills in small group activities and simulations.
Responsibility for
Civic Life
A goal of baccalaureate programs is to develop student understanding of
and participation in society for the public good. Students become more self-directed
and prepared to assume roles in society through experiences in learning,
thinking, making judgements, and acting responsibly in various civic contexts.
The "Living in the Environment" course develops student concern for the importance of issues related to the environment. Students have opportunities to understand their roles in determining environmental policies.
Values Identification
and Responsible Decision Making
It is important for students to identify the values and assumptions which
inform academic disciplines and human experience. Students learn to identify
their own values, to recognize the principles underlying their actions and
the actions of others, and to defend their own preferences and actions.
Students examine their values and those of others in the All-University
Curriculum course "Romanticism in the Arts." They explore
the values expressed in the art of the romantic period in light of today's
values and their own preferences, understanding, and values.
